New City Theater Company Hosting Open House Feb. 23

By TOM CARDINALE
The Coaster
Thursday, February 14, 2008 at 11:55 am

A new theater company in Asbury Park is offering performers of all age and skill levels the chance to learn from respected, experienced, award winning actors and instructors. The ReVision Theatre Company is the newest brainchild of Tom Morrissey, the founder of the Genesius Theatre Guild in New York City and a former professor at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy, Wagner College, and New York University.

Morrissey, who now splits his time living in New York City and Asbury Park, said the creation of the ReVision Theatre Company is the culmination of years of effort.

“We are in the process of starting the new theatre company in Asbury Park,” he said. “We wanted to find a place outside of New York where we could spread out. We spent two years looking for a place.”

Morrissey, along with fellow instructors David Leidholdt, Stephen Bishop Seely, and Lou Liberatore, will offer classes for children and adults of all skill levels at the VFW Hall on Lake Avenue in Asbury Park starting in March and Morrissey said every aspiring actor is sure to find something they can enjoy.

“Beginners are definitely welcome, it’s one of the things that’s great about the classes. It would be useful to people with experience or without,” he said.

Morrissey said the classes for middle and high school students will work on a musical and culminate with the performance of the play entirely by the students. The younger students will work on improvising fairy tales and other things they’re familiar with, Morrissey said, and then finish by creating their own show.

Morrissey said some highlights of the adult classes include a cabaret class which focuses on cabaret style songs as well as a comedy class that will include stand-up and improv.

The classes will run for eight to 10 weeks and tuition ranges from $150 to $200, Morrissey said. All the courses will be taught by Morrissey and his fellow instructors, who have extensive theatre experience.

Leidholdt has been a director and producer in New York City for over 14 years while Seely holds an MFA in acting from Michigan State University and has appeared in stage productions, television shows, and films. Liberatore has been an actor for over 25 years and was nominated for a Tony Award for his performance in “Burn This” alongside Joan Allen and John Malkovich.
He is also the founder of Asbury Park’s Jersey Shore Writer’s Studio and the Arts Coalition of Asbury Park.

A free open house will be held on Sat., Feb. 23 at 4 p.m. for anyone interested in classes or other upcoming events. The open house will be held at the VFW hall.

ReVision Theatre Company is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. For more information or to register for classes visit their Web site at http://www.revisiontheatre.org/ or call 732-775-0635.